Imagine checking into a hotel that has no staff — just technology running the operation. It would be cold and impersonal, not to mention frustrating when you had a question. On the flip side, consider the amenities, services and efficiency that would be gone if hotels stopped using tech all together. The sweet spot lies in marrying technology and human interaction, but businesses in all industries, including hospitality, struggle with finding the balance between technology like hotel automation and the human touch. Many hotels find that the best solution combines both tech and personal interaction in the same experience.

Leaders Successfully Combining Tech and Traditional

Accenture’s B2B customer experience research findings show that investing heavily in both digital and legacy channels is one of the top six characteristics of “Leaders,” which were defined by researchers as very high-performing companies with high financial value. The study uses the term “legacy” to refer to traditional channels such as customer service and the call center, as well as training and tools such as the CRM system for these channels. Researchers also studied “Strivers,” which were defined for the report as companies falling short in some way either strategically or financially but which were in much better business shape than “Laggards,” which were the bottom 20 percent.

When asked whether digital channels and technologies will significantly improve their interactions with business customers, provide new sources of revenue, engage employees and partners more effectively, and help them reduce costs, Leaders strongly agreed more often than Strivers did. Interestingly, Strivers invested in an average of only two new areas of tech compared to the seven noted by Leaders, with Internet of Thingstechnology being most popular, with 48 percent of Leaders increasing spending in this area.

Interestingly, Leaders are increasing their investments in traditional channels at a quicker pace than Strivers and are focused on integrating both technology and human interaction into the customer experience. According to the report, “As a result of this dual focus, Leaders have developed a very clear ‘digital-physical’ vision tuned to the multi-speed customer agenda and tracked rigorously. They have a clearly established view of how traditional and digital interaction channels should be integrated, and systematically measure the return on their investment in digital as well as in other initiatives.”

Best of Both Worlds

Hotels are beginning to follow advice from Leaders by using staff aided by technology to help facilitate customer experiences. Here’s an example of a customer journey at a hotel that blends tech and personal service:

Call center using data analytics to provide personalization: A business traveler, Todd, calls the reservation center, and based on his number is immediately routed to the business traveler specialist he worked with in the past. During the call, the representative’s data analytics program prompts the representative to offer Todd advance tee times, since he played golf the last time he stayed. By using data analytics in a call center, the representative combines the science of the numbers with the rapport built with the customer.

Front desk employee assisting guest with tablet-based check-in: A few days later, Todd enters the lobby, an employee greets him and they sit down together to use a tablet to check in. This allows Todd to interact with the technology at his own pace while also benefiting from a personal greeting and someone next to him to assist.

Server providing personalized tablet menu: Todd’s room isn’t quite ready, so he and his family head to the restaurant for lunch. Instead of receiving a paper menu or using a kiosk for ordering without interacting with a staff member, the family has a server who hands them a tablet with the menu personalized based on data analytics to include kids’ menus and vegan options for Todd’s wife. The server comes back to answer questions and place the order for the family, so they benefit from both the customization through tech and a real person who can provide recommendations.

Ordering drinks from a pool chair: Todd heads to his meeting, and his family heads to the pool. A few hours later, Todd’s wife decides to order a drink, but instead of getting up from her chair, she uses her smartphone to order her smoothie. Using beacon technology, a waiter knows her exact location and brings her the peach-mango drink a few minutes later.

It’s a natural inclination to automatically think that more tech is better, but in today’s digital world, people value human interaction even more. If you take the time to thoughtfully and strategically blend both technology and human interaction into as much of the guest experience as possible, your property will provide a level of service not found in others, and your guests will quickly begin returning for future stays.

About Author

Founded by two travel and technology professionals with years of experience in Asia, Representasia specialises in sales & marketing representation throughout Southeast Asia for travel/hospitality technology providers and travel-related startups, as well as providing marketing consultancy services for hotels and travel businesses in the region.